The High Court’s observations on the EC have cast a shadow of doubt over the impartiality of the body. Yet another institution appears to have been compromised by the Narendra Modi government.

Setting aside the disqualification of 20 AAP MLAs, the Delhi High Court Friday said the Election Commission recommendation in the office-of-profit case was “bad in law”, “vitiated” and failed to “comply with the principles of natural justice”.

The Delhi High Court set aside the disqualification of AAP legislators on Friday on the ground that the EC’s opinion was “bad in law” and against principles of natural justice as it decided the matter without holding any hearing on the merits of the office-of-profit complaint.

AAP MLA's disqualification plea LIVE UPDATES: Delhi High Court quashed the presidential order on AAP's 'office of profit' and sent it back for reconsideration to the Election Commission. In a big victory for AAP, the membership of its 20 MLAs was restored.

AAP MLAs' disqualification plea: Striking down the Election Commission's order disqualifying 20 AAP MLAs, the Delhi High Court on Friday quashed the Presidential notification and directed the poll body to hear the case once again.

The AAP legislators were accused of being unconstitutionally appointed as parliamentary secretaries to assist various ministers of the Delhi government.

AAP MLAs disqualification plea: The recommendations for disqualification was forwarded to the President on January 19, and Kovind accepted it the next day. The office of profit case pertains to the appointment of the MLAs as Parliamentary Secretaries in the Arvind Kejriwal cabinet.

The EC's counsel was arguing on the allegation raised by AAP MLAs that the EC had not given them the opportunity to hold an oral hearing in the matter, violating the principles of natural justice.

The ECI said it afforded the MLAs ample opportunity to come and participate in several hearings, which clearly demonstrated and proved that the principles of natural justice have been duly complied with.